Why we need a People’s Clause

Published

05 September 17

This Thursday, MPs will continue to debate the Repeal Bill.

The Repeal Bill is a hugely important law which is set to affect every single one of us. The Bill sets out how the UK Government will go about rewriting all of the UK’s laws once we have left the European Union.

That includes the laws that currently protect us from poor treatment in the workplace - and the right to live free from discrimination – whether you are LGBT, disabled, black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) or an older person. Simply put, laws that affect us all.

The Government has promised to protect equality laws after Brexit, but the Bill as it stands contains no such guarantee.

The Government has promised to protect equality laws after Brexit, but the Bill as it stands contains no such guarantee to replace the protections that we currently have under European law.

In fact, as the Bill is currently drafted, Government Ministers will have the power to change legislation without any real challenge from Parliament. That means your MP won’t have a real say if this or a future UK Government decides to strip away the rights that currently protect you.

Many LGBT rights stem from EU law. Just last month a Supreme Court ruling – fought by Liberty and John Walker - finally righted pension inequality for same-sex couples.

There is a real risk that this and so many other hard-won rights that protect LGBT people - and all UK citizens - could be lost unless MPs act to change the Bill now. We all have a role to play in making sure that happens.

There is a risk that this and so many other hard-won rights that protect LGBT people - and all UK citizens - could be lost unless MPs act to change the Bill now. We all have a role to play in making sure that happens.

That’s why Stonewall is right behind Liberty and Amnesty International’s campaign to add a People’s Clause to the Bill – a simple amendment which would clearly commit any UK Government in the future to safeguarding our rights.

We hope that you too will join their campaign by emailing or tweeting your MP asking them to support a People’s Clause.